BUTLER TWP — Butler County Community College is the best community college in the state, according to a study done by Schools.com.

The study used 7 criteria when ranking Pennsylvania’s 14 community colleges.

BC3 President Nicholas Neupauer said, “Frankly, this came a bit out of the blue, but this is incredibly exciting information, and it really validates what’s been going on here.”

The data in the survey only accounts for the main campuses, not branch campuses, according to California-based Schools.com, a national company owned by QuinStreet Inc.

The study used 7 criteria: total cost of attendance, number of transfer agreements with other Pennsylvania institutions, student-to-faculty ratio, percentage of students enrolled in distance education, average student retention rate, graduation rate and flexility which measures the availability or evening and weekend classes and on-campus day care options.

The number of transfer agreements and the attendance cost were weighted most heavily, at 30 percent each, according to Schools.com.

BC3 was ranked as the best community college due to its affordability and transfer rate, which Schools.com deemed “chart-topping.” In addition, BC3 had the second highest graduation or certification rate and the third lowest cost, the study said.

The study also highlighted the class size of BC3 at an average of 18 students in 2015, providing for better, individual attention.

Neupauer said BC3 emphasizes affordability and retention.

BC3’s ranking in the survey “validates a lot of the larger strategies we’ve taken on,” he said.